Violin Secrets: 101 Strategies for the Advanced Violinist (Music Secrets for the Advanced Musician)

In Violin Secrets: 101 Performance Strategies for the Advanced Violinist, author and violinist Jo Nardolillo surveys the cutting edge of current violin technique, combining tradition and innovation in one volume. Blending traditional strategies that have produced generations of legendary performers with modern ideas, Nardolillo reveals the secrets of today's most sought-after master teachers, garnered through her decade of study at top conservatories across the nation. With more than a quarter century of experience teaching at the advanced level, she has refined and distilled these essential concepts into clear, concise, step-by-step instructions, complete with original illustrations and helpful tips. Violin Secrets is an indispensable resource for any and all serious violinists. The first chapter tackles the toughest challenge on the wish list of every established professional, dedicated student, and passionate amateur: understanding why immaculate intonation is so difficult (and exploring ways to achieve it). Further chapters address the advanced techniques of fingerboard mapping, mastering spiccato, controlling vibrato, playing into the curve, small-hand technique, and navigating comfortably in high positions. An extensive section on practice strategies blends concepts from learning theory, sports psychology, and Zen, and the chapter on artistry offers insight on creating expressive phrases, connecting with the audience, and developing a unique artistic voice. Violin Secrets examines overcoming performance anxiety, choosing the right music editions, being a strong section player in an orchestra, leading productive chamber music rehearsals, and winning auditions. Violin Secrets is beautifully illustrated with original drawings by T. M. Larsen, musical examples from the standard literature, and a violinist's family tree that traces these secrets back through to the founding fathers of violin technique. The Music Secrets for the Advanced Musician series is designed for instrumentalists, singers, conductors, composers, and other instructors and professionals seeking a quick set of pointers to improve their work as performers and producers of music. Easy to use and intended for the advanced musician, contributions to Music Secrets fill a niche for those who have moved beyond what beginners and intermediate practitioners need. Intonation. How to play in tune Octave hand frame Finger patterns Fingerboard mapping No fixing Ševčik's paradox Which intonation? Using overtones Using a tuner to improve intonation Tuning fifths Tuning octaves Frog fingers The left hand. Don't slap the puppy Maximum velocity 1 (Take it easy) Maximum belocity 2 (Bursts) The right fingerings by pattern The right fingerings by color Clear false harmonics Popping left-hand pizzicato Reaching 10ths Small-hand technique Coordinating the bow and fingers Shifting and playing high. Zen and the art of shifting The right shift Shifting to high positions Reaching the end of the fingerboard without getting hurt The Heifetz move No pressure Using the bow to help shifting The best shift may be no shift Vibrato strategies. Know your vibrato Get control of your vibrato Achieving continuous vibrato Vibrato on double stops and chords Vibrato tricks for the fourth finger Electroshock vibrato Shimmer vibrato Cello vibrato Vibrato sculpture Tone and the bow. Know your bow hold The bow as a lever Default setting Gravity is your friend The hidden enemy Crushing the sound Hitting a moving target Playing into the curve How to make your bow longer Pop and float Mastering spiccato Sizzling sautillé Flying bow strokes Fabulous flautando Tremolo Using the left hand to improve tone The law of inertia Don't be a slave to your bow Practice strategies. Now practice Practice concentrate Never pay rent again Divide and conquer Skeletons When slow practice isn't enough part 1 (Add-a-Note) When slow practice isn't enough part 2 (Looping) When slow practice isn't enough part 3 (Burst practice) When slow practice isn't enough part 4 (Rhythms) When slow practice isn't enough part 5 (Notching) Improving your technique in just fifteen minutes a day Using etudes to prepare repertoire Journaling Building your practice haven Team practice Your best friend, the metronome Artistry. Start from the music Learning polyphonic Bach It's all opera Playing powerful chords Brilliant passagework through lyrical preparation Shaping the phrase in fast detaché The climax Cultivating your unique voice Choosing the right edition Performance strategies. Stage makeup Practice performing Firewalls Overcoming stage fright Connecting with the audience Chamber music strategies. Groups who play together stay together Successful rehearsals when no one is in charge Playing blind Keeping the score No barriers Orchestra strategies. Sharing a part Being a team player Concertmaster Preparing orchestra music Faking Building your orchestral library Mastering audition excerpts Playing the auditions game Bonus secret 101: Mirroring. Violin Secrets is the indispensable resource for any and all serious violinists. It begins with the toughest challenge on the wish list of every established professional, dedicated student, and passionate amateur: understanding why immaculate intonation is so difficult and exploring the ways to achieve it. Subsequent chapters include the advanced techniques of fingerboard mapping, mastering spiccato, controlling vibrato, playing into the curve, small-hand technique, and navigating comfortably in high positions. An extensive section on practice strategies blends concepts from learning theory, sports psychology, and Zen, and the chapter on artistry offers insight on creating expressive phrases, connecting with the audience, and developing a unique artistic voice. Violin Secrets covers the complete spectrum of the violinist’s life, including overcoming performance anxiety, choosing the right music editions, being a strong section player in an orchestra, leading productive chamber music rehearsals, and winning auditions.